Bundaberg Region Heritage Study Final Report Bundaberg Regional Council January 2015 Converge Heritage + Community Contact details are: Simon Gall Converge Heritage + Community ABN: 71 366 535 889 PO Box 1974 Tel: (07) 4124 1938 Email: [email protected] Copyright © 2015 Document Verification Project Bundaberg Region Heritage Study Project Number 15021C Document Title Bundaberg Region Heritage Study_Final Report_27012015 File Location SharePoint/15021C/Reporting/Final Report Client Bundaberg Regional Council Version history Revision Date Nature of revision Prepared by Authorised by 0 24/11/14 Draft report CB UO SG 1 27/01/15 Final report CB SG 2 Bundaberg Region Heritage Study Final Report | 1 Contents List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Purpose of this Report ........................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Limitations ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Study Timing........................................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Personnel ............................................................................................................................ 6 2 Review ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Register Searches ................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Previous Studies ................................................................................................................ 10 2.3 Consultation ...................................................................................................................... 17 2.4 Conclusions and Gaps ....................................................................................................... 19 2.5 The Short List .................................................................................................................... 19 3 Recommended List of Places ................................................................................................. 28 3.1 Field Survey ....................................................................................................................... 28 3.2 Research and Analysis ....................................................................................................... 28 3.3 Assessment of Significance ............................................................................................... 28 3.4 Recommended Places ....................................................................................................... 29 3.5 Further Stages of Work ..................................................................................................... 30 4 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 34 4.1 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 34 4.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 35 Appendix 1 – The Long List ............................................................................................................ 36 Bundaberg Region Heritage Study Final Report | 2 List of Tables Table 1: CHL Places in the Bundaberg Regional Council local government area. ................................... 7 Table 2: QHR Places in the Bundaberg region. ....................................................................................... 7 Table 3: Places included on the draft planning scheme overlay. ........................................................... 8 Table 4: Places listed on National Trust QLD only. ................................................................................. 9 Table 5: Stakeholder Consultation ........................................................................................................ 17 Table 6: The short list of places. ........................................................................................................... 20 Table 7: Recommended list of places ................................................................................................... 29 Table 8: ‘Stage 2’ list of places. ............................................................................................................. 30 Table 9: Long list of places. ................................................................................................................... 36 Bundaberg Region Heritage Study Final Report | 3 1 Introduction 1.1 Project Background The Bundaberg Regional Council (hereafter ‘Council’) is currently preparing a Queensland Planning Provisions compliant planning scheme for the Bundaberg local government area. The scheme includes a heritage and character overlay and associated code. Council recognised that the current overlay does not represent the diversity of places and historical themes in the Bundaberg local government area. Council therefore required the preparation of a local heritage study that identifies a ‘representative range of heritage places throughout the region’ and to ensure it meets its obligations under the State Planning Policy and the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. The purpose of the study was ‘to provide for the assessment and documentation of places of local cultural heritage significance in the Bundaberg Regional Council area and prioritise the preparation of ‘place cards’ and statements of significance for the recommended places. 1.2 Purpose of this Report This is the final report for the project and it provides the final recommended list of places, the methodology adopted to determine the list and recommendations for the management of the places and further stages of work. 1.3 Methodology The study brief required that the study be completed in a twelve week timeframe. In order to achieve a result in this period the methodology needed to be specific, focused and executed in an efficient manner. The following dot points outline the methodology, and the following chapters in this report provide the results of its implementation: The study began with a review of both existing information and consultation with the purpose of producing a ‘long list’ of potential places. The long list was intended to reflect a ‘snapshot in time’ of the potential local heritage places in the region identified in existing databases, non‐ statutory registers, previous studies and places identified during consultation. On the request of Council the long list does not include places already entered on the Queensland Heritage Register or the Commonwealth Heritage Register.. Following the review, a ‘short list’ of places was prepared for field work. The selection of places was based on whether places reflected the key historical themes for the region (based on the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection assessment), if the place could be reasonably located and if it was reasonably expected that sufficient information could be obtained within the project timeframe to adequately assess the place’s significance. The field work was then undertaken. The purpose of the field work was to physically examine each place, determine the integrity and condition of the place and to take photographs. An ‘in the field’ assessment of each place was made to determine if it demonstrated requisite characteristics that indicated it was likely to meet the threshold for local heritage significance. Places were also added to the ‘long list’ if identified during field work and not already included in the list. Following the field work, a shorter list of places was prioritised for further research and assessment. This assessment consisted of the preparation of histories, physical descriptions, and a statement of significance for each place. A place card was then prepared for each place using a purpose‐built Microsoft Access database. Bundaberg Region Heritage Study Final Report | 4 A final report (this report) was prepared to outline the methodology and results for all stages of the study. The final ‘long list’ is provided as an appendix. 1.4 Limitations The purpose of the study was to prepare a register of places of local heritage significance for the Bundaberg region. The study does not refer to: Aboriginal cultural heritage: this is managed under different legislation and in a different manner to local heritage places. Nonetheless, it is important to note that local heritage places identified in the study may also be significant to Aboriginal people. Neighbourhood character: although heritage can be a component ‘character’ is more about the overall aesthetic values or contribution of a particular streetscape or suburb, rather than ‘heritage’, which is assessed according to